The first reported hire for Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan was former Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator.
Wilson comes over from the Ravens after one season as the team’s defensive backs coach. Baltimore finished with the No. 6 pass defense and safety Kyle Hamilton became a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro on his watch.
But that wasn’t Wilson’s first stint as a defensive backs coach. In fact, he has a wealth of experience in that role after holding the same job with the Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition, he also served as defensive pass-game coordinator with the Eagles and Jets.
Wilson overseeing a top-10 pass defense in Baltimore wasn’t the first one he’s been apart of, either, as he coached the No. 1 unit in Philly in 2022, and the No. 10 pass defense in Los Angeles in 2016.
The new Titans defensive coordinator has had no shortage of great coaches to learn under, a list that includes Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, and former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams.
He’s cited Williams and Bowles, specifically, as two of the coaches who groomed him for this role.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’ve been around some great defensive coordinators, in my opinion,” Wilson said. “I’ve been groomed by Gregg Williams, I’ve been groomed by Todd Bowles, who are very good in this league, and they’re very thorough. I’ve been tutored by them.
“I know how to run a ship. I know the responsibilities. So if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll be ready for it.”
While I would’ve preferred a candidate with actual defensive coordinator experience — seeing as how the Titans have a rookie head coach — Wilson has more than enough coaching experience to ease that concern.
Not to mention, there are no shortage of people who are smarter than me that hold Wilson in high regard and say this job is long overdue, including ESPN’s Louis Riddick, who was hot on Wilson in 2016.
Should have NEVER taken this long for him to become a coordinator.
Next stop: Head Coach
Well done @Titans https://t.co/nNxW0fYBXd
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) February 2, 2024
Even one of his aforementioned tutors, Bowles, thought Wilson was going to be a head coach one day.
Dennard Wilson was a highly-regarded DB coach during his time with the Jets. Todd Bowles once predicted that Wilson would be a HC one day. He’s on the right track. https://t.co/FYpDDAk1Qe
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) February 1, 2024
Eagles players also wanted Wilson to get the defensive coordinator job in Philly. He did not, and the Eagles have struggled to stick with one since.
Dennard Wilson did an impressive job with the Eagles' defensive backs for two seasons and was a popular choice among players to earn a promotion to defensive coordinator last season.
The Eagles didn't choose Wilson, and now they're on to their third defensive play-caller since… https://t.co/eIZwQ42ofx
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) February 1, 2024
Again, I would have preferred a veteran defensive coordinator for the Titans, but there’s enough here with Wilson to like this hire.
Also, having a defensive coordinator who has extensive knowledge of the defensive backfield, an area the Titans have struggled with, is an added bonus.
Grade: B+
